Ventilating system for refrigerator mechanisms



Dec. 18, 1951 A. M. THQMPSON VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATOR MECHANISMS Filed April 8, 1948 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 18, 1951 VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATOR MECHANISMS Arthur M. Thompson, Chicago, Ill. Application April 8, 1948,.Serial No.-19,668

Claims. (01. 62-4174) The present invention relates to a new and improved combination of means which together form a ventilating system for the refrigerator mechanism housing compartment of ajmodern refrigerator, such ventilating means being more specifically adapted to refrigerators of the individual unitary type for home use.

It is the present day practice with substantially all refrigerators to dispose the operating mechanism including the main units such as the motor, condenser, compressor, reservoir, etc., in a lower or bottom compartment of the refrigerator with only suitable pipelines leading to the upper portion of the box and to the evaporator in the cooling compartment of the conventional form of refrigerator for conventional operation. Since circulation of air is necessary for the usual operation of the motor-compressor units and the.

condenser, most of the modern refrigerators merely take in air from about the base of the refrigerator which supports the operating mechanisms and obviously most of this air travels into this portion of the box or refrigerator from openings located adjacent the floor. This air'is circulated through and out of the lower compartment of the box by the fan or impeller which is connected with the motor and drives this air through the condenser and out through an opening in the back of the box. In addition, most of the refrigerators are provided with an upwardly extending false back which opens near the upper end of the back of the box, and the function of this false back is todischarge air which circulates through the mechanism compartment and out of the opening in the back of the box in a general vertical direction into the room in which the refrigerator is located.

This system has a number of disadvantages. One such disadvantage is that all of the intake air is drawn directly from about the area surrounding the base or the bottom of the refrigerator adjacent to the floor supporting the same, which obviously causes the intake air to pick up dust, dirt, and lint, together with other airborne materials which are all drawn into the bottom compartment of the refrigerator and directed with the air to pass over as well as through the various operating mechanisms located in this lower compartment of the refrigerator. A considerable amount of this airborne dirt and other materials are deposited upon the mechanism and the oily parts thereof, but a greater portion of this airborne material is forced into the conlating fan which forces the air through the condenser and upwardly through the false backvso that this, air together with the dirt therein is discharged directly into the room adjacent the wall against which the refrigerator is located.

A further disadvantage of this type of mechanism and the general arrangement thereof for the purpose of circulating the air in the manner pointed out above is the fact that when the various operating mechanisms are shut off under the automatic controls ofthe box, there is considerable latent heatretained by all of these.

mechanisms in this portion of the box and more particularly by the compressor which is hot from operation, the motor which is also hot, and a certain amount is retained by the condenser as well as by all of the surrounding connected parts including the base and other units located within this compartment of the refrigerator box. Such latent heat is therefore retained within this compartment causing a heating of the bottom of the cooling compartment of the box, therefore directly tending to reduce the efficiency of the refrigerator, increasing the cost of operation thereof as well as the cost of maintenance by reason of the fact that the operating mechanism of the refrigerator is in motion for a considerably longer space of time than is actually necessary. If the latent heat retained by, the mechanisms were efficiently and immediately dispelled after the same has stopped running, the efliciency and operation of a comparable refrigerator would be greatly enhanced.

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide an eflicient and positively operating ventilating system for the circulation and dissipation of air from within'the compartment for the operating mechanisms of a refrigerator to thus overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, and which system will increase the efflciencyof the box as well as the practical operation thereof on a reduced cost basis both as to cooling operation and as to maintenance of therefrigerator;

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ventilating system for the compartment of the refrigerator mechanisms which completely confines and directs air through said compartment and which operates both as a self acting ventilating system, and also as a forced air system through the action of the fan or impeller of the refrigerating mechanism that induces air circulation during the period of operation of the mechanism.

Another object of the present ventilating system includes an installation of a permanent nature which can be supplied in new homes under construction, and which also may be readily installed in old homes to introduce such a system. The means used can be a standardized construction capable of supplying a wall fixture for use with the refrigerator, and whereby the latter by means of its self-contained air flow svstem may be connected to such wall system to entirely eliminate free circulation of air from about the base of the box or from the floor of the room supporting the refrigerator, tirely any discharge of airborne dirt and other materials directly into the room in which such refrigerator is located. Such room is usually the kitchen where cleanliness should be paramount.

Another advantage of the present system and,

the complete installation thereof is that no change is necessary in the location of the refrigeration mechanisms in the lower portion of the box. It is contemplated that the ventilating system of the present invent-ion may be applied with substantially no change to the entire mechanism set-up. About the only requirement is that the compartment housing the refrigerating mechanisms should be sealed to confine the circulation of the air to such compartment and V to "the proposed ventilating system which operatesto produce its own path of circulation of air through such compartment from and to a wall adapter fora duct against which the box is set or placed for permanent location i'nthe manner which shall "hereinafter be described.

' All other features and advantages relating to the ai-r circulation cooling f the refrigerating mechanisms comprising the motor, compressor, condenser and other analogous cooperative units carried in the lower portion of the modern refrigerator shall hereinafter appear in the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred construction of the system comprising the-subject matter of the present invention.

In the drawings:

'Fi'g. l is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a modern refrigerator as placed adjacent the wa/ll'of a house and as such box would normally be located for operation and use, certain portlon's off-the box being broken away and in section with the adjacent fragmentary portions of the house wall also shown in section to better illustrate the details of construction of the complete ventilating system for the refrigerator as contemplated by the present invention;

Fig. :2 :is a rear elevational view of the refrigerator illustrated "in Fig. 1 also having a portion thereof broken away and in section to show certain other details of construction of the ventilating system;

Fig. 3 :is a vertical cross-sectiona1 view taken substantially along the plane of the line 3-3 in Fig. .2 showing the cooperating connecting members of the box and the wall which together form r the separable members which comprise an "integral portion of the'two coasting air confining parts of the ventilatmg'sy'stein; and

--Fig. 4 is a front 'elevational view of the wall adapter and the wall duct as the same would appear by itself andfree from any adjacent wall portions with which this unit connects.

This ventilating system comprises two main parts, one part being the portion of the system which :is associated with the refrigerator for unitary and complete assembly therewith so as to be an integral part of the box, and the second part of the system which may comprise a standand to further eliminate en- 1 ard installation can be readily built into the wall of a house and provided with a suitable wall adapter prelocated with respect to the place assigned for the refrigerator andalso prelocated at a certain fixed distance from the fioor for direct cooperation with the first part of the system described as forming a unitary portion of the box itself.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 the refrigerator 5 presents a conventional type of box having a lower compartment 6 for housing the various units that are normally employed for operating the cooling system of the box for refrigerating purposes. Compartment 6 is defined by top and bottom walls land 8, side walls 9 and It and a back wall H, the forward portion of this wall 'confinedcompartment 6 being open for thereception of a closure member in the form of a door l2 having one or .more suitable clamping units It to tighten the door and to seal the opening of the compartment. The door l 2 is'pr'efe'rably provided with a gasket m to further insure this particular sealing function. Obviously, the door [2 is also adapted for ready removal whenever necessary for servicing or checking the operating system'of the refrigerator. The bottom wall 8 of the compartment is further provided with aprons I5 and l t at the sides of the refrigerator and with a connecting apron I 1 at the front thereof, which aprons together :func-- tion as means for supp'orting th'e entire-boxv a's is readily seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

The refrigeration mechanisms comprise such conventional units diagrammatically illustrated as the "motor 18 whichdrives "a pulley and belt mechanism 19 that connects with the conven tional compressor 20, the motor [8 also supporting 'a' suitable fan or impeller 21 upon its'drive shaft, which fan directs air into and through the condensers 2 2 to cool the refrigerant flowing therethrough during the usual cycle of operation of the refrigerator. As a rule, the refrigerant reservoir is also carried in this portion of the refrigerator and all of the elements mentionedincluding the motor l8, compressor 2!} and the condenser 22, are mounted upon an integral base '28 that is spring supported upon the bottomwall 8 of the compartment 5.

The rear of the box is provided with a falseback '24 defining the boundaries of an enclosure divided into an air inlet section 25 and an air outlet section 26 as determined by the division wall 2' best illustrated in Fig. 2. A suitable opening 28 substantially the size of the'condenser 22 is provided in the rear wall I l of the compartment 6 and leads into the bottom of the outlet or discharge section 26 of the false back '24. A further suitable opening 29 (Fig. 2) is also formed in the'rear wall ll of the compartment 6 and this opening communicates between the inlet section 25 of the .false back 2% and a duct 36-- Which is located to'generally follow the-end wall In of the compartment 6. Duct 38 is provided with a lateral opening 3! as seen in Fig. 1 which opens into the sealed compartment 6 at the lower portion of the box and in a corner remote with respect to the discharge opening 2-8 previously described. r

Both the inlet and discharge sections 25 and 26 of the false back 2 3 connect with a circular stub duct 32 best illustrated in Fig. 3. This stub-duct 32 comprises an outer cylindrical wall 33 terminating in a closed end 34 which abuts the rear portion of the box, and the circular wall 33 fits snugly through an opening 35 suit- 25 and 26 of false back 24 and to each side of' the division wall 31. Thus, as best seen in Fig. 2, the lower semi-circular duct area40 of the stub duct 32 communicates with the false back 24 through the inlet section 25 of such false back and is connected through the opening 29 to the lateral forward portion of the compartment 6 of the box by means of the opening 3| of the duct 30. The upper semi-circular duct portion 4| communicates through the opening 39 with the discharge section 26 of the false back 24 and is also connected through the opening 28 in the rear wall [I of the compartment 5 for receiving the discharge air directed out;

of the sealed compartment 6.

The aforesaid described part of the ventilating system comprises the portion which is-an' integral part of the box as a unit and which is directly movable therewith for cooperation with the wall portion of the ventilating system which ing remotely with respect to the refrigerator which may be in the basement or other cool room or compartment. This duct 42 terminates in a position remote from the refrigerator and as shown in the drawings may be in a location above the ceiling 45 of the room containing the refrigerator and the duct has a suitable opening 48 which is preferably located in the attic of the house 41. This duct 42 in and of itself provides a chimney which functions to naturally circulate air by thermo syphon action between the basement and the attic thus encouraging normal upward movement of air. This duct has been shown as opening into the attic but it may also open to the exterior of the home through the wall 48 and conventional dampers may be employed in the usual manner to restrict the free circulation of air from either end of the duct to the other opening thereof.

The duct 42 is provided with two oppositely related semi-circular openings 49 and 50 having their circular peripheral edges formed about a common axial center, which axial center is disposed a predetermined distance above the floor 5| which supports the refrigerator 5, such axial center being coincident with the axial center of the stub duct 32 for the purpose of forming coacting aligned units for the purpose to be described.

An annular ring 52 is secured to the surface of duct 42 and is also concentrically located with respect to the same axis about which the openings 49 and 50 of the duct 42 are located. In addition, a dividing wall 53 is fastened within the duct 42 to divide the same into inlet and outlet sections as determined also by the semicircular inlet and outlet openings 58 and 49 respectively. With this arrangement, the inlet section of the duct 42 including the intake end 43 communicates through the opening with.

the exterior of the duct 42, while the semi-circular opening 49 provides communication from the exterior of the duct 42 with the upper or discharge portion of such duct leading to'the opening 48" previously described.

A suitable rubber gasket 54 best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 nests within the opening or interior of the annularring 52 and seats against the portions of the duct 42 which surround the semi-circular openings 49 and 58 within the area of the annular ring 52. The facing of the rubber gasket 54 is made with a flange 55 that seats against the surface of the room wall 56, and the annular opening 51 of the rubber gasket cred convergingly inwardly to i receive the outer end of the stub duct 32 against shoulder 58 of the gasket 54 disposed in coplanar relationship with respect to the outer surface of the part 6| to be described.

The part of the rubber gasket 54 which lies adjacent the wall of the duct is also provided with two semi-circular openings 59 and 69 which are located and arranged to coincide with the openings 49 and 50 of the duct 42. Openings 59 and BI), by reason of their spaced relation about a common axis, are located to either side of a transverse rubber strip 6| which is diametrically formed and horizontally located as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

It is readily seen that the rubber gasket 54 which is held in place by the annular ring 52 and is connected with the duct 42 provides a fixed cooperative means forming a wall adapter which is a component part of the ventilating system for the refrigerator when the refrigerator 5 is located in cooperative alignment and positoned next adjacent thereto. The corresponding coacting elements of the ventilating system connected with the refrigerator permit ready operative connection of the two parts of the system as described by merely moving the refrigerator in correct alignment with respect to the wall adapter and by then pushing the refrigerator toward the wall and into the position illustrated in Fig. 1. The parts of the system are thereby intimately joined to form a simple functioning and efficient apparatus which provides adequate and confined ventilation of the refrigerator operating mechanism compartment disposed in the lower end of the refrigerator. When the refrigerator 5 is moved into position against the wall, the stub duct 32 occupies the position illustrated in Fig. 3 with the annular outward edge 62 of the duct 32 seated tightly against the shoulder 58 of the rubber gasket 54 and with the transverse division wall 31 of the duct 32 seated against the diametrical strip 8| of the gasket 54 thus joining the upper and lower halves 4| and 40 of the stub duct 32 with the appropriately located and aligned openings 60 and 59 of the gasket 54 and duct 42 in the manner best illustrated in the drawings. In this manner the duct 32 of the false back 24, and the gasketed annular ring 52 of the duct 42 provide separable means operatively joining the two parts of the system to function in the capacity for which they were designed.

During the functional operation of the units of the refrigerating mechanism including the motor l8, compressor 20 and fan 2|, air is drawn in through the bottom end 43 of the duct 42 which then passes into the lower half 40 of the stub duct 32 through the aligned openings 58 and 60 of the duct 42 and gasket 54, and such air then passes through the opening 38 in duct" 32 and on into the inlet portion 25 of the false back 24, then through the opening 29 and into the duct 30 to be discharged into the lower from which the same discharges through the opening 39 of duct 32 and then intothe upper half 41 of such stub duct, the air then passing therefrom through the aligned openings 59 and 49 into the upper section of the duct .42 to be discharged from theropening is during this cycle of operation of the-entirersystem: In this manner the invention contemplates an entirely en closed system adapted for ventilating a sealed compartment within the refrigerator and for cool-- ing the operating mechanisms housed within such compartment. In this manner none of the air from the surrounding area of the refrigerator isdrawn into such compartment'housing the mechanisms, nor is any of the air that is expelled from thiscornpartment discharged directly into, the room or into any space surrounding the refrigerator per se.

Whenever the mechanisms in the lower com-- partment 60f the refrigerator are shut off by the automatic controlling instruments of the standard refrigerator; the heated air and heat retained by theaggregate mechanisms will then naturally rise and flow out of the opening 28 of compartment 6 and such air will pass upwardly through section 260i the falseback' 24 into the upper section il of the stub duct 32 and from there such hot air will pass upwardly and out of the duct 42- whereby hot air will efliciently and quickly rise out of compartment 6 underneath the re frigerator proper and cool air will be drawn into the lower end @3' of the duct and into the compartment ii to accelerate this cooling action of the mechanisms in the lower portion of the refrigerator box at such times when the mechanisms-of the compartment have just shut off or are idle.

.In this manner the mechanisms of the refrigerator, both when in operation or out of operation, will be adequately and quickly cooled, dissipating heat without objectionable transmissionto the box itself and thereby providing a better and more efficiently running refrigerator having'all of the advantages herebefore pointed out in the objects and in the; foregoing description of the coacting-means of'this invention. The system also introduces a safety factor by estab-* lishing a means for diverting harmful gases from a. refrigerator in the event that'a leak or break occurs in the refrigerant system of the box.

Other modifications and changes are contem plated in the present design and construction of the ventilating system of this invention, and'the disclosure anddescription both relate to means only suggested. by way of example. All modifications and. changes contemplated shall however begoverned by the-breadth and scope of the language of the appended claims directed to the salient features of this invention.

What I' claim is:

1. A wall connection for joining the inlet and outlet conduits of a sealed compartment housingthe refrigerator operating mechanisms, with a wall duct having air intake and air discharge portions, comprising an annular ring secured to the wall duct, a divider in" said duct positioned diametrically with respect to said ring, said duct having openings therethrough above and be-" law said divider and within said ring, a resilient gasket carried within said ring and abutting; said duct having corresponding openings therein dis posed in alignment with said wall duct openings, said inlet and outlet conduits of said sealed com-- partment terminating in a divided stub duct'having coplanar terminal edges'adapted for abutting engagement with said gasket and arranged for dual connection with said intake and discharge portions of said Wall duct through'the two openings in said duct to either side of the divider in said duct.

2. A ventilating system for drawing off heated air from adjacentthe cooling chamber of a refrigerator, comprising a refrigerator compart ment, operatively connected mechanisms mount'-' duct arranged for connection with said separable" conduit means and having at least one opening therein disposed in a location remote from saidrefrigerator to discharge heated air from said one opening as such air is moved out of saidcompartment by said cooling fan. 7 a a 3. In a refrigerator, a sealed compartment adjacent the cooling chamber thereof, operative mechanisms mounted within said compartment for running said refrgerator, and air confining means connected in sealed relation with said sealed compartment comprising a divided false back having communication with opposite sections of said sealed compartment respectively, conduit means joined with said divided back for air passage to and from said sealed compartment sections, and an air duct having at least one end open to receive cool air and another end open at a location remote fromthe cooling chamber of the refrigerator and above the sealed compartment thereof, said air'duct having'a fitting to coact with said conduit means including a separate pair of openings to allow heated air to pass out of one section of said sealed compartment and into said duct and to permit cool air to enter the other section of said compartment from said duct.

4. In a refrigerator, a sealed compartment, operative mechanisms including a cooling fan disposed within said compartment to run the re-' frigerator, air confining means connected with Psaid compartment having one portion thereof opening behind the fan and another portion thereof open in front of the fan, air conduit means connected with the respective portions of said air confining means, and an air duct having one open end disposed for the reception of cold air and the other end thereof to expel warm air, said ductincluding a fitting for coaction with said air conduit'me'ans, said fitting having one passageway to connect the cool air end of said duct withthe portion of the'air confining" means openingbehind' the fan; and said fitting having anotherpassageway to connect the warm' air end of said duct with the portion of theair confining means with its opening'di'sposed in front" of the fan.

5'. A ventilating system. for a refrigerator to draw cool air througlith'e operating mechanisms 7 thereof comprising a closed'compartment to house said mechanisms, a false backon: said refrigera munication with oppositely disposed portions of said compartment respectively, a divided duct connected with each air passageway of said back, and a vent stack having one end positioned to receive cool air and its other end to discharge said air, said vent stack being divided and hav ing a dual opening fitting for communication with said divided duct, and said fitting being adapted for operative connection with said divided duct to provide cool air passage from said stack to said compartment and warm air passage from said compartment into said stack.

6. In combination with a refrigerator having a compartment to house mechanisms to operate the refrigerator, a wall duct having one end adapted for cool air intake and another end for warm air outlet, an enclosure wall of said re frigerator having a pair of chambers with openings disposed in spaced relation in said refrigerator compartment, said wall duct having a. dividing wall therein to segregate the cool air portion of said duct from the warm air portion thereof, and a separable coupling to provide one air passageway between said cool air portion of said wall duct and one of the chambers of said enclosure wall, and to provide another air passageway between the other of the chambers of said enclosure wall and the warm air portion of said wall duct.

'7. In combination with a refrigerator having a compartment to house mechanisms to operate the refrigerator, a wall duct having one end adapted for cool air intake and another end for warm air outlet, an enclosure wall for said refrigerator having a pair of chambers with openings disposed in spaced relation in said refrigerator compartment, said wall duct having a dividing wall therein to segregate the cool air portion of said duct from the warm air portion thereof, and a separable coupling to provide one air passageway between said cool air portion of said wall duct and one of the chambers of said enclosure wall, and to provide another air passageway between the other of the chambers of said enclosure wall and the warm air portion of said wall duct, said coupling comprising a shell connected with said enclosure, said shell having a dividing baflle wall with openings from each portion of said shell into the respective chambers of said enclosure, and a ring connected with said wall duct at the dividing wall with openings in said duct from a each portion thereof leading into said ring, said shell and ring being disposed in telescoping relation, and resilient means interposed between said shell and ring to provide an air seal therebetween,

the openings of said shell being aligned with the openings in said duct.

8. In combination with a refrigerator, a sealed compartment ot confine the operating mechanisms of the refrigerator therein, a false back on said refrigerator comprising an air conducting means having an air inlet section connected with one portion of said sealed compartment and having an air outlet section connected with another portion of said sealed compartment, 2. divided wall duct disposed adjacent said refrigerator and having air intake and air discharge sections with open ends disposed in remote positions with respect to said refrigerator, and coacting air communicating units carried by said air inlet and air outlet sections of the false back and by the respective air intake and air discharge sections of the divided wall duct to connect the corresponding inlet and discharge elements of each with the same elements of the other.

9. In combination with a refrigerator, a sealed compartment, refrigerator operating mechanisms including a motor driven fan housed within said compartment, a false back on said refrigerator comprising an air conducting means having an air inlet section connected with said compartment in a position removed from the location of said fan, and having an air discharge section connected with said compartment in a position to receive the air stream discharged by said fan, a divided wall duct disposed adjacent said refrigerator and having air intake and air discharge sections with open ends disposed in remote positions with re spect to said refrigerator, and coacting air communicating units carried by said air inlet and air outlet sections of the false back and by the respective air intake and air discharge sections of the divided wall duct respectively to connect the corresponding inlet and discharge elements of each with the same elements of the other whereby said fan is adapted to move air through the false back and duct system, and through said sealed compartment of the refrigerator.

10. A ventilating system for drawing off heated air from adjacent the cooling chamber of a refrigerator, comprising a refrigerator compartment having mechanisms mounted therein for running the refrigerator, an air confining cover connected with said compartment in the form of a divided housing having communication at spaced points with said compartment and terminating with adjacent inlet and outlet openings disposed at a predetermined location. with re spect to said refrigerator, and an independent air vent duct arranged for connection with said refrigerator and having at least one opening therein disposed in a location remote from said refrigerator and above the compartment thereof and having at least one other opening therein for connection with said refrigerator compartment, and a separable conduit to join said one other opening of said air vent duct with at least one opening of said divided housing to provide communication between said refrigerator compartment and said air vent duct.

ARTHUR M. THOMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,492,512 Drinkwater Apr. 29, 1924 1,900,644 Haimbough Mar. 7, 1933 2,195,804 Anderson Apr. 2, 1940 2,253,618 Grover Aug. 26, 1941 2,254,604 Forsthoefel Sept. 2, 1941 2,254,837 Burns Sept. 2, 1941 

